Introduction:

When alkanes burn, the alkane molecule is broken apart, and the atoms form new molecules. However, alkanes can also vaporize, liquify, or solidify without changing their molecular form. In cases like this, their flammability is preserved!

Activity:

• Observe the containers given out by your teacher.
  • What alkanes can you find in the ingredients?
  • Make a list of six of the ingredients, including all of the alkanes.
• Visit this site , and zoom in on the following locations:
  • your favorite beach town;
  • the Philadelphia Airport;
  • your home;
  • the Franklin Mills Mall;
  • DuPont headquarters;
  • where the Schuylkill River meets the Delaware River. What industry can you see?
• Using the materials supplied by your teacher, boil the mixture (Coca Cola) over the candle flame. Carefully "waft" the vapors to your nose. (Be careful: They will be hot!) Where would you put a pipe to drain away the water vapor produced?

Conclusion:

Oil refineries do a dangerous thing: they heat a fuel without burning it! The vapors turn back into drops of liquid at different temperatures. By controlling these temperatures, refineries can isolate different fuels (like propane, gasoline, and diesel) to sell for different purposes.

Practice:

• Grab the assignment B7VaporizingAlkanes from your iCal, or from my Teacher folder.
• Complete the assginment, PDF it, and turn it in using the Hand-in Robot.

Enrichment: